×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

FC Platinum satisfied by team display

Sport
FC Platinum have expressed satisfaction with their performance this season, despite plummeting to seventh position as compared to a second-place finish last year.

FC Platinum have expressed satisfaction with their performance this season, despite plummeting to seventh position as compared to a second-place finish last year.

Report by Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter

In an interview, club secretary Phil Muvengwa said they were happy with the team’s 2012 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League performance.

Last year, FC Platinum lost the championship to Dynamos on goal difference. They have plummeted to seventh this season behind Dynamos, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Monomotapa, Shabanie Mine and Buffaloes.

Muvengwa yesterday said the team mangement is content with their position on the log.

“We did not perform dismally. It was not a bad performance from us. We won the Bob88 Super Cup and the Independence Trophy this year,” said Muwengwa.

“It is better because last year we were second, but we did not get anything. What is important is to win the league not coming second or third,” he said.

However, while having won some pieces of silverware, this season, FC Platinum failed where it mattered most in the league and the Mbada Diamonds Cup and they have came under criticism.

FC Platinum, formerly Mimosa, assembled a strong team and got good financial backing when they won promotion into the Premiership last year.

The Zvishavane-based side roped in players like Charles Sibanda and Bheki Ncube — who has since joined Highlanders – Thabani Kamusoko as well as Zephania and Joel Ngodzo. They also acquired the former Gunners trio of Tafadzwa Dube, Qadr Amini, Ali Sadiki and also brought in Allan Gahadzikwa from Motor Action.

With results seemingly, not coming FC Platinum parted ways with head coach Rahman Gumbo during the season, a decision some feel backfired. But the club insists there are no regrets.

“We have only played two seasons in the Premiership, but it is unfair for people to say we have failed. We are yet to sit down and review the season. We do not regret parting ways with Gumbo after he joined us mid-season,” he said.

Gumbo had taken over from Patrick Mandizha following the death of head coach Benjamin Moyo in April last year.

Philani Mabhena had also assumed the role of caretaker coach before Mandizha was elected to the same position.

FC Platinum have several players who have been implicated in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.

The task during the off season will be to sort out their technical team headed by Tendai Chikuni on a caretaker basis.

Former Caps coach Lloyd Chitembwe has been linked with that job while other names such as Norman Mapeza have also been suggested.